Exclusive NGF Articles and Reports
Full Shots
Get the full accounting on U.S. golf courses and facilities through year-end 2023
The newest member reports on golf supply in the U.S. are now available, including a comprehensive 46-page dive into the world's best supplied-golf market. As a complement to this annual report is a one-page summary overview of golf facility supply in the U.S. Click here to access and download.
Topics: Closures, Construction, Course Owners, Development, Facilities
Par 3's Have Record Representation Among 2023 Openings
Assessing golf's short course movement
Par 3 courses are increasingly common among new course openings, especially relative to their standing in overall supply.
Topics: Golf Courses, Golf Facilities, Par 3, Par 3 Courses, Research
January play got off to a sluggish start compared a year ago, as colder temperatures contributed to rounds declines in six of eight regions.
Topics: Engagement, Facilities, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
Examining 'Pandemic Era' On-Course Participation Changes
2024 Golf Participation in the U.S. report now available for NGF members
The 2024 Participation Report is out, featuring the latest year-end 2023 data on various segments and age groups, along with information on off-course only participants, interest in the game among non-golfers, and much more.
Topics: Engagement, General Interest, Golfers, Off-course Participation, Participation
Year is capped by biggest jump for any month in 2023
Play climbed to record levels in 2023 as December rounds finished with a late surge.
Topics: Engagement, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities, Golfers
NGF's annual golf industry report is now available for member download.
Topics: Economy, Facilities, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
The pandemic era uptick in golf popularity and play has meant some property owners and visionaries are actively building golf courses – much more so than a decade ago or so. This development looks quite different than it did during the boom era of golf course construction, however.
Topics: Construction, Facilities, Facility Supply, General Interest, Golf Courses
While November, on a national level, is a low-volume month with rounds largely dependent on golf-friendly weather and seasonality in many parts of the country, it saw the second-biggest YOY jump of any month in 2023.
Topics: Facilities, Facility Operations, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities
Examining Rounds Sustainability
Interest, intent, pandemic play trends, and price increases
Here’s what the latest Core golfer surveys reveal about “itch” and intent to play, trends in post-pandemic rounds growth, and potential obstacles to future play – including full tee sheets and rising green fees.
Topics: Engagement, General Interest, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities, Golfers
Golf Gifting: What’s in Store?
The latest member research from NGF's consumer pulse study
Approximately half of Core golfers buy golf-related gifts during the holiday season. Has there been any change this year in those planned behaviors and which categories are the most popular for gift-giving?
Topics: Apparel, Consumer Spending, Economy, Equipment, General Interest
Rounds of golf in October were relatively flat on a national level compared to a year ago, with the biggest fluctuations in northern parts of the country most significantly affected by seasonality and fall weather impacts.
Topics: Facilities, Facility Operations, Golf Courses, Golf Facilities, Participation
Examining the Simulator/Screen Golf Market
Member-only research on demographics, frequency of use, and locations
Whether commercial or residential, home simulator usage and supply is on the upswing. And while participation in off-course golf activities is found to generally increase golfers’ engagement with the traditional game, simulator golf might be the best evidence of this relationship.
Topics: Engagement, General Interest, Off-course Participation, Participation, Research
